Stop Future Badger Culls!
As the badger culls in two pilot areas have thankfully ended for this year (although the Government wants to continue them for the next three years, and roll them out to other areas), it is vital that our MPs understand the strength of feeling against the Government's policy. The Government needs to recognise the continuing widespread opposition throughout the country to badger culls.
If you agree that badgers shouldn't be made the scapegoat for a problem they didn't cause and the victims of a policy that won't work, please write to your MP.
We have provided a draft letter, but please add your personalised comments to make your own views clear. If your friends or family are similarly angry about the Government's policy, please encourage them to also contact their MP. Thank you.
Dear MP,
I was strongly opposed to the Government's pilot badger cull, which began earlier this year and ended in November 2013. It was deemed a failure because the unjustified extended shooting license was finally revoked for failing to achieve the revised targets, and some experts are already stating that it is likely that the cull has made the TB problem worse. The only significant scientific study into the impact of badger culling on Bovine TB in cattle, the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT), concluded that "badger culling can make no meaningful contribution to cattle TB control in Britain", and it is clear that the vast majority of independent experts are also opposed to the cull.
I am concerned that despite all this evidence and the strong public opposition to the cull, including the largest ever number of signatories on the official e-petition site, the Government seems determined to plough ahead regardless with further culls next year. I am therefore writing to ask you to consider signing Early Day Motion 299 (http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2013-14/299), and also Early Day Motion 661 (http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2013-14/661), which seek to ensure full parliamentary scrutiny of the outcome of the pilot culls and to enable Parliament to have the final say on whether a national cull should go ahead.
If you do not sign EDMs, I would be grateful if you could write to the Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP, in support of the wording of the motion.
[Your comments will be inserted here.]
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
